(Picture credit: Department of Transport/Facebook)
On Monday,10 March 2025, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy visited Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein to check on the recovery of the last two patients from the tragic bus-truck collision on the N6.
Her visit focused on offering support and extending heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery. Minister Creecy expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and conveyed her best wishes to those injured.
The incident happened earlier last week, around 15 kilometers south of Reddersburg towards Smithfield. A City to City bus with 33 passengers collided with a Volvo truck around 3 AM on Wednesday, resulting in ten fatalities, seven women and three men—and leaving 27 others injured. The bus, operated by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), was involved in a side-swipe collision with the truck.
During her visit, Minister Creecy provided updates on both the victims and the deceased, stating that four bodies remain unidentified and identification efforts through fingerprints are ongoing.
Post-mortem examinations for the victims are scheduled for Friday. She also noted that PRASA is offering comprehensive support to the affected families, including site visits, transport and lodging assistance, registration of deaths, and repatriation of remains, as well as trauma counseling for passengers and their families.
Monyatso Mahlatsi, the Free State MEC for Health, who accompanied Minister Creecy, praised the quick and professional response of the multidisciplinary emergency services under the Road Incident Management System.
Even in the face of tragedy, we are committed to preserving human dignity. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of the deceased, and we wish this speed recovery to the injured.
Minister Creecy stressed the necessity of road safety and the importance of convening bus operators to address concerns like driver behavior, vehicle safety, and compliance with speed limits.
Prevention is better than cure. It is crucial we call all our bus companies together and again reiterates the message of safe driver behavior to protect lives.”
Further developments include an ongoing investigation into the accident’s cause. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has sent a crash investigation team, although the precise cause of the collision has not yet been established.
Initial reports suggest that the bus was traveling from Reddersburg towards Smithfield while the truck was going the opposite direction, leading to the side-swipe collision.
In her concluding remarks, Minister Creecy reaffirmed the government’s dedication to enhancing road safety and preventing future tragedies.
“We cannot continue with the status quo, where derailments and pot blockages cost are economy billions of Rands, and thousands of jobs in all sectors of our economy are at risk. It is crucial that we address this issues to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens,” remarked Creecy.
Creecy’s visit to Pelonomi Hospital underscores the government’s commitment to supporting the victims and their families during this challenging time and highlights the critical need for road safety initiatives to avert future incidents.
